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A Wildlife Rescue Center

An adolescent female lion saved from war-torn the war zone has received vital dental surgery to extract a severely infected fang caused by an abscess.

The lioness arrived at The Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent, England on 14 March following a campaign by managing director Cam Whitnall, who raised £500,000 to support her and several other lions from Ukraine.

The Big Cat Sanctuary

The surgery was carried out on Friday by dentist Peter Kertesz, who has cared for hundreds of large felines.

"When I examined Lira's jaw and mouth, I could see immediately the broken tooth was severely infected," stated the dentist.

He believed the infection was caused by a injury sustained more than a year ago, causing bacteria creating harmful substances within the fang.

"My philosophy is non-human dental problems should be addressed in the safest, the least invasive and most secure manner," he said.

Mr Kertesz clarified that as the lioness did not need to hunt for food, extraction was the most "logical and humane option."

The Big Cat Sanctuary

The rescue center said the removed fang was 3.14 inches in length, with the dentist having to extract a accumulated infection from beneath the tooth and close the significant opening with seven dissolving sutures.

He also performed a root canal treatment on the opposing upper canine tooth, which was discovered to have a similar issue.

The curator, manager at the facility, said the operation was a "total triumph."

She said the staff had spotted "a minor swelling on the lioness's face" but it had been impossible to determine "how serious the condition was."

"The lioness will be a little uncomfortable to begin with, but now that the toxins are out of her body, she will start to feel much better over the coming days," added Ms Smith.

The successful surgery represents a significant step in the lioness's healing process after her rescue from Ukraine.